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Episode: Ragged Tooth Sharks

Ragged Tooth Sharks

Published June 25, 2013

An Unusual Shark

Photograph by Earth Touch

The ragged tooth has no built in buoyancy and will sink if it stops swimming. To combat this irregularity they have evolved a very unique ability to maintain perfect buoyancy. The ragged tooth venture to the surface to gulp air. They store this air in their stomachs, which allows them to remain suspended in the water column with minimal effort.

The Seafood Platter

Photograph by Earth Touch

Nothing within a mile radius can escape the attention of this prehistoric and hugely successful predator.

On a Mission

Photograph by Earth Touch

Competitive males become more aggressive during mating season.

Resting Up

Photograph by Earth Touch

Being a nocturnal predator they rest during the day, lurking in caves and overhangs, to conserve their energy for nightfall.

Deadly Predator

Photograph by Earth Touch

The ragged tooths largest population is found on the east coast of South Africa. This is their final stronghold on the planet.

Scoping Out the Ocean

Photograph by Earth Touch

The inshore waters off the coast of South Africa are the hunting grounds to a large, infamous ragged tooth shark.

Keep Your Enemies Close

Photograph by Earth Touch

Ragged tooth surrounded by shoal of sardines. After the chaos of the sardine run, the ragged tooth begins to gather in hidden, ancient underwater caves.

Dangerous Dive

Photograph by Earth Touch

Scuba diver on ocean floor, looking at ragged tooth sharks.

Looking For Love

Photograph by Earth Touch

Each year, the ragged tooth shark migrates 1,500 kilometers along the South African coast to find a mate.

Dinner Time

Photograph by Earth Touch

Ragged tooth with mouth open about to bite fish.

Terrifying Teeth

Photograph by Earth Touch

Ragged tooth emerging from darkness.

Shark Gathering

Photograph by Earth Touch

Its fearsome appearance, makes is a potential man-eater, and in the 1960s the animals were hunted almost to extinction around the coastline of Australia.

Easy Access Meal

Photograph by Earth Touch

The ragged tooth shark is the only animal on Earth that is a cannibal before it is even born.

A Big Killer

Photograph by Earth Touch

The ragged tooth shark can change up to 30,000 teeth in its life. Needle-like teeth which it learns to use while still in its mothers womb to kill and eat its siblings.

Lurking in the Water

Photograph by Earth Touch

South Africa is home to the worlds deadliest sharks and one of them has a dark side The Ragged Tooth.